Terrebonne voters to consider school tax

Published: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 9:43 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 9:43 a.m.

Terrebonne Parish voters will decide May 4 whether to approve a new property tax for public schools.

The School Board voted Tuesday to start the bureaucratic process of asking the state to put the 31-mill tax on the ballot.

If approved, it would bring in an estimated $16.4 million a year more for the school system.

The board already collects 9 mills, in addition to sales taxes. A mill is a dollar's tax on every $1,000 of taxable property.

Superintendent Philip Martin repeated arguments he's made over the past few months for why voters should approve the tax.

"This school district collects the smallest amount in taxes of any parish in the state. We are last, dead last," Martin said. "I don't want my grandchildren going to the worst-funded school district in the state, and I think parents will agree with me."

Martin said the system has struggled with state budget cuts. Over the past five years, administrators have been forced to lay off teachers, cut spending on travel and supplies and leave many teaching positions unfilled, increasing class sizes and putting more burden on individual teachers.

Martin said the tax increase will put the school system at the Louisiana average for property tax rates.

All of the board's nine members voted to put the proposal in front of voters except Debi Benoit, who was absent, and Brenda Babin, who abstained, citing procedural complaints.

Babin said the board did not put many of the specific agenda items for Tuesday's meeting — including the one to ask for a tax increase — in front of the public, which she alleges violates the state's open-meetings law.

"The LSU Board of Supervisors did what we're doing right now," Babin said. "And they were told to go back and vote on it again because they hadn't done it right."

Babin said she supports asking voters to consider the tax, however.

Five residents addressed the board about the proposed tax increase. All but one, Houma resident Rene Williams, spoke in favor of the increase.

"I might vote for this tax if it wasn't this particular board. But you haven't given us a plan for what you want to do with it," Williams said. "With the record of this School Board, there is no way I will approve of giving you a blank check. I don't trust you."

Williams' criticism drew heated reactions from members.

"Where did he come from with this foolishness?" said member Gregory Harding. "To come up here and insult the character of the people on the board like that? Sir, I really don't care if you don't come back again."

Other board members emphasized that the vote wouldn't raise taxes by itself.

"We are just getting the ball rolling. We are just starting the process of going through everything we need to do to get this on the ballot," said member Roger DeHart. "It's up to the voters to decide what happens. If they think we deserve it, they'll give it to us."

Martin said he plans to hold meetings with teachers and parents to see how they prioritize the system's needs.

"We want this to pass. If we don't give people a plan for what we're doing, there's zero chance of it passing," Martin said. "So of course we're going to go out and give people a plan well before the vote happens."

Two parents, a teacher and Parish Councilwoman Arlanda Williams spoke in favor of the tax.

"I am not speaking to you as a councilwoman, I am speaking to you as a parent and a taxpayer," Williams said. "I'm asking you to send out an S.O.S. — save our schools. We can't have the schools our children deserve with the funding we have now."

Staff Writer Matthew Albright can be reached at 448-7635 or at matthew.albright@dailycomet.com.

<p>Terrebonne Parish voters will decide May 4 whether to approve a new property tax for public schools.</p><p>The School Board voted Tuesday to start the bureaucratic process of asking the state to put the 31-mill tax on the ballot.</p><p>If approved, it would bring in an estimated $16.4 million a year more for the school system.</p><p>The board already collects 9 mills, in addition to sales taxes. A mill is a dollar's tax on every $1,000 of taxable property.</p><p>Superintendent Philip Martin repeated arguments he's made over the past few months for why voters should approve the tax. </p><p>"This school district collects the smallest amount in taxes of any parish in the state. We are last, dead last," Martin said. "I don't want my grandchildren going to the worst-funded school district in the state, and I think parents will agree with me."</p><p>Martin said the system has struggled with state budget cuts. Over the past five years, administrators have been forced to lay off teachers, cut spending on travel and supplies and leave many teaching positions unfilled, increasing class sizes and putting more burden on individual teachers.</p><p>Martin said the tax increase will put the school system at the Louisiana average for property tax rates.</p><p>All of the board's nine members voted to put the proposal in front of voters except Debi Benoit, who was absent, and Brenda Babin, who abstained, citing procedural complaints.</p><p>Babin said the board did not put many of the specific agenda items for Tuesday's meeting — including the one to ask for a tax increase — in front of the public, which she alleges violates the state's open-meetings law.</p><p>"The LSU Board of Supervisors did what we're doing right now," Babin said. "And they were told to go back and vote on it again because they hadn't done it right."</p><p>Babin said she supports asking voters to consider the tax, however.</p><p>Five residents addressed the board about the proposed tax increase. All but one, Houma resident Rene Williams, spoke in favor of the increase.</p><p>"I might vote for this tax if it wasn't this particular board. But you haven't given us a plan for what you want to do with it," Williams said. "With the record of this School Board, there is no way I will approve of giving you a blank check. I don't trust you."</p><p>Williams' criticism drew heated reactions from members.</p><p>"Where did he come from with this foolishness?" said member Gregory Harding. "To come up here and insult the character of the people on the board like that? Sir, I really don't care if you don't come back again."</p><p>Other board members emphasized that the vote wouldn't raise taxes by itself.</p><p>"We are just getting the ball rolling. We are just starting the process of going through everything we need to do to get this on the ballot," said member Roger DeHart. "It's up to the voters to decide what happens. If they think we deserve it, they'll give it to us."</p><p>Martin said he plans to hold meetings with teachers and parents to see how they prioritize the system's needs.</p><p>"We want this to pass. If we don't give people a plan for what we're doing, there's zero chance of it passing," Martin said. "So of course we're going to go out and give people a plan well before the vote happens."</p><p>Two parents, a teacher and Parish Councilwoman Arlanda Williams spoke in favor of the tax.</p><p>"I am not speaking to you as a councilwoman, I am speaking to you as a parent and a taxpayer," Williams said. "I'm asking you to send out an S.O.S. — save our schools. We can't have the schools our children deserve with the funding we have now."</p><p>Staff Writer Matthew Albright can be reached at 448-7635 or at matthew.albright@dailycomet.com.</p>